Detroit Lions linked to injured Tennessee star in NFL draft

Could the Detroit Lions shock everyone at pick No. 17? The prevailing thought is that the Lions will draft either an offensive tackle or an EDGE.

Detroit has a need at offensive tackle after it released Taylor Decker and the franchise needs to find some help opposite Aidan Hutchinson, too. But, a report on Tuesday indicates that Detroit might head a different direction entirely . In a conference call on Tuesday, NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah linked the Lions to injured Tennessee star Jermod McCoy.

The 6-foot-1, 188-pound cornerback missed all of 2025 after tearing the ACL in his right knee during an offseason workout. While there's definitely an injury risk, Jeremiah says the upside on McCoy could be too good for the Lions to pass up. "Jermod McCoy has top-10 talent.

Like, it’s legit. All his tape (in 2024) is as good as anything you’ll see in this draft and he plays big, he’s explosive. "So how much risk is associated with that?